News from the Land Trust Alliance New York Program

112 Spring Street, Ste 205 Saratoga Springs, NY  12866 518-587-0774 518 587-9586 (fax) newyork@lta.org

Photo of Carpenter Falls. Courtesy of the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

Policy Alert - Gov. Spitzer Proposes to Increase Land Trust Grants Program to $1 Million Governor Eliot Spitzer’s Executive Budget for 2007-08, released on January 31, contains a $1 million appropriation for the New York State Conservation Partnership Program. This represents a 100% increase over the current year’s appropriation and, if approved by the legislature, will make a huge difference in our ability to build land trust capacity and advance land protection projects in New York State. Lobby Day: Tuesday March 13 Come to Albany on March 13 for Lobby Day, when New York land trusts will talk directly to their legislators about funding for land trusts and environmental conservation, and the Community Preservation Act. Learn more about the Lobby Day, other actions needed, and see a press release template to get your local media involved: Read the full alert. (posted 2/6/07)

New York’s Conservation Easement Tax Credit:
A Guide for Landowners and Land Trusts

Download our new 5-page guide to get answers to frequently asked questions about New York's new conservation easement tax credit. Taxpayers whose land is restricted by a conservation easement may receive an annual New York State income tax credit of up to 25% of the school district, county, and town real estate taxes paid on the restricted land, up to an annual maximum of $5,000 per taxpayer. (posted 11/10/06)

NY Conservation Easement Tax Credit Guide (PDF; 37KB)

NEW! New York State Conservation Easement Tax Credit Guide for Non-Residents
(Word, 50KB)
For nonresident landowners who want to file for the NYS Conservation Easement Tax Credit. (posted 1/24/07)

How to File Your Conservation Easement
For a landowner to claim the tax credit, the easement has to be filed with the Department of Environmental Conservation. Not sure how to do this? Read our 1-page guide. (posted 11/17/06)

Guide to Filing Your Easement (PDF; 53KB)

Northeast Land Conservation Conference: Save the Date
The 15th Annual Northeast Land Conservation Conference will be held April 20-21, 2007 at the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, NY. We hope to see you there! (posted 11/13/06) More

New York Conservation Grant Program Publication
This 10-page color publication explains New York's Conservation Partnership Program. Full of photos and maps it's a great way to learn about this important program. Download; 1MB PDF (posted 7/28/06)

Announcing the 2006-07 NYSCPP Grants
Applications for a fifth round of New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) grant awards are now available. We encourage all New York land trusts to consider submitting one or more proposals for this funding! (posted 10/19/06) More

$225 Million Environmental Protection Fund Approved!
Shortly after 11pm Friday, June 23rd the State Assembly passed and the state leaders finished the environmental budget by approving a record $225 million for the 2006-07 Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). This is a huge victory for land conservation and land trusts in New York State! More (6/26/06)

LTA and State Officials Announce $450,000 in New Grants and Technical Assistance
LTA joined the New York Department of Environmental, members of the New York State legislature, and land trust representatives today in announcing $450,000 in grants and technical assistance to 33 land trust organizations across New York State. More (posted 6/16/06)

New York State Enacts a First-in-the-Nation Tax Credit for Conservation Easements
For the past 6 years, the Land Trust Alliance and New York’s 80+ land trusts have been working hard to create a state tax incentive for conservation. Last week, our efforts finally paid off:  New York’s Conservation Easement Tax Credit officially became part of the State tax code. More (posted 5/4/06)